orchids in politics and the public garden: the untennyer...

Orchids in politics and the public garden the Untennyer Park in Yonkers) New York

CAROLIN MEES

The remarkable history of Untermyer Park th e ga rden of a lu xurious private

estate in upstate New York transferred into a public park is currently muddled

in ciry and architectu re archives due to lack of funding and media attention

The park was the first Beaux Art design in the USA by the famous Wiliam

Welles Bosworth and yet the site is not regularly noted in the garden history

ca non despite its proximiry and ready access to N ew York Ciry The purpose

of th is paper is to re ctifY this gross omission and shed light on the relevance of

this elusive and bewitching park

During the industrial revolution in the second half of the nineteenth

century much of the USA rural population moved to the expanding urban

centers in search of econoll1ic opportunities and an improved qualiry of life

While the inner ciry districts became overcrowded with impoverished and

unemployed immigrants the increased housing shortage forced ongoing

cons truction and therefore reduced public accessibility to green open space

Urban water and air became increasingly polluted and the upper class who

could afford the lu xu ry of leisure and travel escaped from the citys dust and

densiry on weekends and hot sum mer days Consequently fonner farmland

along the Hudson River in the areas of Yonkers and Hastings-upon-Hudson

outside th e ciry became the location of huge mansions for this mobile upper

class However ongoing sub urban sprawl commercialization and pollution

took its tol degrading th e landscape In response a preservationist movement

sought to conserve nature drawing th e suppOrt of a concurrent arts and

cultural movement which inspired by the Hudson River Valley was

depicting the beaury of natural landscapes There the Greyston e estate si tuated

at th e top of a hill with a wide view over the Hudson River and of the

Palisades impressive Sto ne cliffs at the other bank of the river with a huge

stone mansion adjacent to an extensive uniquely designed garden not only

displayed refined architectural and artistic works but also provided an

outstanding setting and stage for entertainment in nature

Greystone was built and developed by three owners who were members of

the new bourgeois class In 1862 John T Waring one of the first industrialists

in Yonkers bought approximately 33 acres of land and built the mansion a

massive boxy structure with mansard roofs prominent chimney towers and a

ce ntral square tower with a portico and entry sta ircase at its base which he

named Greystone for its construction in grey granite (figure 1) During his

twelve years of ownership Waring extended the properry to 633 acresgt

Th e estates seco nd owner Samuel J Tilden (1814-1 886)-1 was Governor of

New York State Tilden acquired Greystone in 1879 and added an additional

464 acres of land By including a properry called Tanglewood on the west

side of North Broadway and an undeveloped parcel of 319 ac res on the east

sideS the size of the p roperry was thllS expanded to TIl 3 acres Tilden

constructed greenhouses to cultivate imported rare plants When he died in

TS R6 after only seven years o f occupancy( the ownership of Greystone

remained owing to a delay in the execution of Tildens w ill indeterminate for

over ten years

In 1899 the lawyer and advocate Sa muel Untermyer acquired the property

and expanded the estate to 17T acres Around forry years later in 1940 he

willed it at hiS death to th e C iry of Yonkers to be u~ed as a publi c park His

I SO 1460-r 17 6 1) ~ 009 -I AYU)ll f( HltNCI S VO l 9 NO4 282

THE UNTERMYER PARK IN YONKERS NEW YORK

rJ GUll E I UtltfTlllyer Park YOflkers NY rile mansion oj Greystone iVrtll Broadllay YOIlkers PhOfO hy A V Card Yonkers J11llsfrafed pllblished 1902 y file City ltgt YOllkers

intention was to preserve his garden while making it accessible not only to

privileged visitors but to the general public 7 Yet this change from private to

public ownership would turn Out to be more difficult than Untennyer

anticipated While the layout and development of Greystones garden had

been influenced by the ideas and personalities of the three landlords especially

the decisions of Samuel Untermyer shaped the propertys landscape design and

its future use

Samuel Untermyer

Samuel Untermyer (I858-I940) was a controversial figure in action as well as in

personality (figure 2) Born in Lynchburg Virginia he moved to New York City

after his taher aJewish immigrant from 13avalia GenTIany died while serving in

the Confederate Amly during the Civil War Against his parents wiU Samuel

Unteflllyer began to study law and graduated in I R78 frolll Columbia University

FIGURE 2 Photo ~r Sal1lllel Unterllljcr and his )iLlnmiddott A Ivai Einstein I possibly al GreySone Felmwry 719]1 COllrresy ifflle Arcilies Cal10rnicI Inslilille oj TeclI1ey and rhe Hebrew Ullilersity ~Jemsaleln

28 3

STUDIES IN THE HISTORY OF GARDENS AND DESIGNED LANDSCAPES MEES

When he was 24 years of age Untermyer became a partner in the law finn of

Guggenheimer Untermyer and Marshall as well as the youngest lawyer at court

Outspoken and directly involved in a multitude of important legal cases

Untermyer concel11ed himself with the public welfare and economic opportunity

As a direct result of a speech he made at the Finance Forum in New York City

entitled Is there a Money Trust severJI of influential financiers includingJ P

Morgan were put under examination resulting in the Federll Reserve Act of1 9 1 4

Untermyer convinced that public transportation vas a civil necessity and should

be affordable for every citizen aJso helped maintain New York City fare rates at 5

cents until [913 In addition as a democrat and supporter ofPresident Franklin D

Roosevelts New DealR Untermyer was an advocate for the public ownership of

public utilities and defended waterpower grants on the St Lawrence River against

private interests

l3eyond these renurkable civic achievements U ntermyer was fond of

traveling and art as well as horticulture and landscape design and owned shy

next to the estate Greystone - several properties in the USA and Europe

He had particularly a great interest in the cultivation of orchids the

demanding cultivation requirem ents of which flowers in the Greysto nes

greenhouses made his estate famous throughout the USA Untermyer made

sure that a fresh orchid was always present in the lapel of his suit when

appearing at court and by this well-appointed emblem he was easily

recognized Lawyers working with him jokingly said that he carried a damp

bag of orchids into cOLIn so as to have a fresh one whenever the one he was

wearing wilted

When his wife died in 1924 Untennyer continued to work until his own

death on 16 March 1940 at 82 years of age at his estate in Palm Springs

California The memori al was held at Greystone and he is buried at

Woodlawn Cemetery in the Bronx New York While Greystone according

to Untermyers will was to be transferred to the City of Yonkers and the

public the difficulty of this transi tion resulted in the loss of mllch of the

gardens original design

Greystone

Samuel Untermyers personality his worldwide traveling as well as his

luxurious lifestyle had a great influence 011 the design of Greystone When he

2R4

bought the estate in 1R99 Untennyer hired the architect J H Freedlander

(1870-1943) to remodel the mansion Freedlander was a f1mous architect at

the time and responsible for the design of the Muse um of New York City ~nd

the construction of the Monument to Perry who fought at the Battle of Lake

Eerie in 1813 He redesigned Greystone into a lavish three-story mansion with

31 rooms and a rower It contained 4 bathrooms had running water in

most of its rooms and gas lightning Its basement had both a milk room and 1

wine cellar Z Freedlander added porches and bay windows on the exterior

and on the ground floor a domed vestibule a Gothic style main hall beamed

ceilings a smoking room den whose work was ebony a Louis XVI salon and

~ library in the Consol premier style 13 Upstairs he installed a swimming pool

of about 35 feet by 18 feet and a Turkish bath 4

During his first eight year of ownership Untermyer did not put much

consideration into the gardens design although he did rnake use of Tilden s

greenhouses and dog kennels where he bred collies to compete with J P

Morgans own dogs at dog shows Then in 1907 the landscape architect

architect and scu lptor William Welles Bosworth (lg(iR-1966)5 was asked to

redesign the garden Bosworth had swdied at the Massachusetts Institute of

Technology (MIT) Jnd at the Ecole des Beaux Arts in Paris and had worked

in the office of Frederick Law Olmsted 6 Among Ius designs is the MITs

campus in Cambridge and the ATampT building in New York City as well as

the gardens of the Rockefeller Family estate Kykuit in upstate New York

After World War I l3osworth supervised the reconstruction of the French

Palace of Versailles of the cathedrJI of Reims in France and several other

projects in an effort to preserve and restore French architectural monuments

and vorks of art His impressive international and prominent work experience

probably caught Untermyers interest but the Rockefellers neighboring

Kykuit estate most likely peaked Unterrnyers attention and competitive drive

One of the examples he had in mind for the design of his garden was the royal

H~mpron Court Palace and Garden on the Thames outside London cre~ted

around 1514 by Cardinal Wolsey William Welles Bosworth was thllS hired to

design the garden he later recounted as the finest garden in the world 17

Bosworths landscape design transformed Greystone garden into one of the

few Grand Beaux Arts gardens of the USA He provided the visitor with

unique vista points spread throughout the various parts of the garden while

simultaneously emphasizing the Hudson valleys specific ch1racter (figures 3a

and 3b)

THE UNTERIvlYER PARK IN YONKERS NEW YORK

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FIG un E 3 A UlIlmycr Pnrk Yo rI kcrs NY lyillinm Welhs BosIIorlh Prdimillary Piau of Greyslolle GardCIlS ri ren 1916 from Architectural Review December 1918 p 197 frolll Ihe Herilage LlIIdswpe Reporl nnd Trcalmel1l Plnll Seplember 1995 prepared by Heritage Ltdscnpe Prtser~ntiOII Ltdscape Archilrcls rid Plnnllers Cllarlotlt [ernwnr mid Nonvalk C(lllnecliwl courtesy of Palncia ODOIltlell principal B Uneerl1lyer Park YlIkers NY plnll

of Ihe hllilt elellenes of LI11ermyer Park s existirlg wndilioll ill 995 repiscd from the Heritnge Landsape Report (lui Treatmml Plal Septellber 1995 prepnred by Herilnte Larldscape PrcsnvaliOl1 Landscape Arrhitts and Plmlllns Charotic [eOI t alld NOwalk Ccgtrllleliwt counes) of Palricia ODonnell prillipal

Untermyers garden

Over the years the garden of Greystone became popubr not only for its

landscape design but also for its unique plants the great variety of flowers and

the cultivation of rare orchids that were presented to interested visitors at

regularly held flower shows

To enter Untermyers property the visitor journeys up North Broadway to

the bottom of the estates hill at which point one originally passed through a

huge wrought iron gate relief sculptures of a unicorn md sphinx guarding the

entrance A sloping drive guided carriages through a forest in the gardens

lower area eventually leading lip to the front of the stone mansion Next to the

mansion and existing greenhouses Bosworth placed the formal Garden

termed the Greek Garden becallse of the columns sculptures and pavilions

reflecting the Greek Revival Style placed in it This landscape was bid out in a

geometric and rectilinear way according to the principles of the Ecole des

Beaux Arts and c reated a contrast to the initial entrance through forest and

wilderness To access the Greek Garden from the mansion th e visitor would

take a short circuitous path which circumnavigated the Carriage House and

the Tilden greenhouses lR This meandering walkway was in contradiction to

the Ecole des Beaux Arts principles and was later straightened when the

greenhouses were moved in 1918 A high bordeling wall with watchtowers

protected the Greek Garden from North I3roadway a major throughway at

the time Thus Bosworth created an atmosphere of privacy and seclusion A

limestone portal set into the brick vall allowed th e visitor to enter the Greek

Garden from the mansion This entrance was Oanked by diamond-scored

stucco panels and topped with a relief of Artemis sculpted by Ulric H

ELlerhusen Y a famous sculptor at the time (figure 4) Bosworth divided the

Greek G arden into an upper and a lower terrace acconunodating the sites

2S5

STUDIES IN THE HISTORY OF GARDENS AND D ES IGNED LANDSCAPES MEE S

the center basin the vi sitors attention is drawn to this strict geometry of

fiGURE 4 UnteTlIyer Park YOl1kers NY mnil1 entrance 10 Ihe Greek Garderllliril reliefof Artemis sculptor Ulric Elierillscii 11010 by Gert Grolling 2006

topography His clear layout was organized along a main sight line with the

upper terrace featuring a cross of waterways intersecting at the center and

bordered with formal plate bands of flowtrs 00

When enttring the garden through th e Greek portal the visitor faces a

descending stepptd water channel running south to north It e nds in a

square basin situated in front of the stage of a slnall Grecian theater

Another waterway crosses perpendicularly to the first through a center

basin Water seems to flow continuously out of elevated marble bowls at

the ends of both channels At Untermyers time forty fountains and

interconnected lights integrated in these waterways provided tranquility and

freshness in summer as well as atmosphere at night Next to these

waterways formal walking paths direct the visitors movements and

attention The walkways are arranged around square patches of grass

following the layouts main axis When passing over small sto ne bridges at

2S6

the landscape design (figure 5)

The amphitheatre situated across from the main entrance gate is lined by

colonnades and eclectically styled combining Gree k revival era style with that

of the Italian Renaissance Rows of concentric stone walls behind the stage

provide seats for spectators transforming the garden and nature itself into the

scenery of a play (figure 6) A pair of double columns was pbced at each corner

of the stage The columns are topped with sphinxes in a way reminiscent of

the Piazza de St Marco in Venice (figure 7)

The east-west waterway was marked by a small pavilion on one end and a

rorunda of fourte en Corinthian columns on the other (figures 8 and 9)

Bosworth designed this rotunda as a folly ie purposely constructed

without a sheltering roof When standing in the rotunda the visitor has a

wide view over the garden the Palisades and the Hudson River valley as

well as over a large and deep reflecting pool on the terrace below

(figure 10) The rotundas floor displays a detailed marble mosaic depicting

the face of Medusa in Greek mythology the daughter of two water gods

who turn ed people into stone with her gaze (figure Il) The mosaic

therefore metaphorically connects the view of the Hudson to the pool

below This pool was si zed to allow bathing on hot summer days and its

sides and floor are covered with a mosa ic depi cting waving lines and hidden

sea animals to create an illu sion of a natural basin (figure r2 and 13) The

reflecting and swimming pool was the nIain feature of the lower terrace It

is accessible to th e visitor by taking stairs situated on both sides of the

rotunda The square lawn ne xt to th e pool was used for leisure ly

entertainment Shaded by the colonnades si tuated next to the upper

terra ces theater spectators could watch for exa mple in ) 923 performances

by the expressionist dancer Isadora Duncan (1878-1927) (figure 14) deg0

Doth the upper and lower terraces of the Greek Garden are lined with

skillfully detailed limestone balustrades designed in Italian Renaissance sryle

They were employed by Bosworth to emphasize the horizontaliry of the

terraces and to define the artificial creation of outdoor space according to

Beaux Arts principles (figures 15 and 16) Other garden elemems as well as its

scenic setting and vistas followed the Grecian tradition by placing for

example sculptures or buildings as fool points to dramatize the natural

environment The artwork which Unterm yer and his wife Minnie acquired

on journeys through Europe and the USA added much to Greystones


flGUR( 5 Vlltenurer Park Yonkers NY plall of the Greek Gardw Drallirlg by Carotil lvtees 2001

landscape design In addition to the sculptures by Walter Schott Uhic H

Ellerhusen and Paul Manship they attained in 1903 a marble fountain

sculpture called the Brook by the local sculptor Isidore Konti~J Besides the f-GURE 6 Vnlermyer Park Yonkers NY theatres slqe llitlt planlinqs Illnt Me probabl y

Greek Garden additional olltdoor rooms were created throughout rlOl as origilally illeuded POI by Gerl Griillirlg 2006

287

STUDIES IN THE HISTORY OF GARDENS AND DESIGNED LANDSCAPES MEE S

FT GUll E 7 Umerm ycr Park Yonkers llY water axis it 10 l1tains alld ampitheatre Igtil

spl inx (0111111115 Photo hy Carolin IVees 2005

Untermyers estate Starting at the theatres colonnades the visitor can walk

down a thousand-step stair to a vista point and hideout platfOtm in the lower

part of the hills slope (figure 17) The limestone balustrade enclosing this

circular terrace was topped with tvo high antique marble columns imported

from Europe The columns towering among the trees of the forest thus frame

the visitors view of the Hudson River below (figure IS) Untermyers

grandson Samuel Untennyer II recalls that his grlI1dfather crea ted this space

as a copy of o ne of the long walkways at the Villa OEste in Italy24

Halfvay down the vista stair another platform this time designed with

closely spaced columns marks the entrance to the Color Rose and Vegetable

Gardens These elements of Untermyers garden are little documented and are

in ruins today (figure 19) Originally the Color Garden was a series of smaller

FI G U R E 8 Ulltcnnycr Park Yonkers llY ater axis frOIll Icst to cast LOrllards thc small pavilio Iitl plantings on the sides that are probably 110 as or(~inly intellded PIOIO by Cat criilil1g 2006

rectangular spaces connected by a long staircase each of Nhich contained

plants with blossoms of a certain color Z5 The Rose Garden is sa id to have

featured a pergola columns supporting twining vines26 A visitor would pass

through this pergola en route to the Vegetable Garden in which large open

tenaces designed in an Italian style [w ere] bisected by a blue tile-lined water channel 27

To the west of the m ansion was the Rock Garden In contrast to the

formal landscape design of the Greek Garden the naturalistic style of rocks

reminded one of the environments in upstate New York (figure 20) By

288

TI-IE UNTERMYER PARK IN YONKERS NEW YORIlt

fiGURE lt) Untermyer Park Yonkers NY wareraxisfroln east 10 lesT towards the rOTunda PllOlo by Cerl Crollil1g 2006

making use of the naturally existing features of the site the Rock Garden

was designed as a massive stone formation with a wrought iron pavilion on

top and a small waterfall pouring out into a round basin belo-v The pavilion

could be accessed by two bridges and was named probably because of its

airy character the Eagles Nest When standing in it the visitor had a view

over the Rock Garden and the forest with another vista of the Hudson

River valley and the Palisades According to traces along channels left in the

rocks today water must have flown out from the pavilions east side and split

around the northern and southern edges before meeting on the westem side

as a strong waterfall terminating in a water basin below In order to observe

this water spectacle the visitor would walk around the north side of the

pavilion and proceed underneath one of the bridges to the Eagles nest and

then pass through a covered stairray (figure 21) A platform provided a place

to rest and look at the waterfall The acoustic sound must have been very

fI G U REI O Untermyer Park Yonkers NY rollmda mId vie of the Palisades PhOTO by Carolirl Ivees 2005

Impressive The visitor would continue down along the waterf111 and

eventually be guided up again on the south side of the basin Even though

this Rock Garden today is dried out and hidden by trash and refuse it is eJsy

to imagine what once had been - and could become again - an attraction

of the Untermyers Park

Besides the mansion a variety of other smaller granite buildings were

situated on the estate They were used as hothouses as conservatories

including four grape houses and four peach houses as a palm house an aquatic

house a tropical house and a rose house Tn addition there were gardeners

sleeping quarters in which some of the 50 to 60 gardeners stayed during the

growing season

Untennyers horticulturist and superintendent George H Chisholm stated

that Greystones flower beds usually carried abollt 500 000 chrysanthemums

300 000 pansies 4-00 000 geraniums 200 000 to 300 000 tulips almost 3

289

STUDIES IN THE HISTORY OF GARDENS AND DESIGNED LANDS CAPES MEES

fl G U RE 1 1 Unterm )er Park Yonkers NY mosa ic at tIle floor of the rotmda aepicting th e iveausa Photo b) cert crdl-liIg 2006

million daffodils and a few hundred thousand croc uses 2S Before being

employed by Untermyer Chisholm had been working for the British Government as a plant pathologist in Bermuda Later he was an independent

landscape designer for private clients like William Rockefeller and Andrew Carnegie 2~ Creating horticultural surprises)O for Untermyer Chisholm

invented the topato by grafting the Irish potato with the tomato in order to

produce a single plant that would produce less-fattening fruit 3 I He also

injected liquor into unripe honeydew melons thereby creating exotic fruits

During the Untermyer esta tes tax proceedings in 1942 and 1943 Chisholm specified that a PalIonia imperialis [foxglove tree] was the most valuable single

tree [and] had a coverage of 200 feet AddirionaUy he reported about 125

elms an unusual double row of CtYltomeria japollica Uapanese cedar] over

2000 Rhododendrons imported at a cost of $250000 25 or 30 Japanese Fl(URE 12 Untennyer Park Yonkers NY the rottmaa l1ith the relectin) pool below and

maples and 200 dogwoods valued at $400 each 32 iew of the forest Photo by Carolin klees 2005middot

290

TJ-IE UNTERMYER PARK IN YONKERS NEW YORK

PIGURG J 4 Untermyer Park YOllkers NY per[onllarlcc uy Isidora Dllllcall 1923 Courtesy of the Hudsoll River AilseYn Yonkers NY

The great variety of flowers growing in Untenllyers garden was regularly

shown to interested visitors These shows were highly praised by the

Horticultural Society and well attended by the public

The public garden

Untenllyers interest in landscape architecture went beyond the design of his

own garden He admitted having a secret desire to be the New Yorks Park

Commissioner since as Park Conullissioner he said I could make the parks

of New York reaJly beautiful They ought to be planted out like the parks in

European cities 33 To confirm his enthusiasm for landscape design and for the

FIGURE 13 Urilerltlyer Park Yonkers NY mosaic colerillg lle reflecting pool depicting creation of public green open spaces he added Ive made a study of the Ilater arlimais Photo by Grrt Griiling 2006 subject If I were Commissioner Id be glad to spend a lot of my own money

29 1

STUDIES IN THE HISTORY 01 GARDENS AND DESIGNED LANDSCAPES MEES

nGUIlE (5 Uti lerIU yer Park YOlkers NY halustrade bordenmiddotn tile IIpper terrace Piloto hy Carolin lvees 2005

It would be a pleasant job working among flowersJ4 Unfortunately in

contrast to this latter statement he did not manage to provide an endowment

for the future maintenance of his garden due to the financial and personal

complications he encountered when first offering Greystone to the city

Untermyer had the idea to preserve his garden as a public park - without

anybody having to pay fees or being in need of an appointment to visit his

garden This vision was likely influenced by the theories of the landscape architect Andrew Jackson Downing (1815-1852)35 who even today is

considered the father of American public parks In Downings opinion parks

were necessary institutions to promote a more democratic social life in the

USA To him parks needed to be part of a general reformist program

including publicly supported libraries art galleries and other opportunities for

social interaction Downings main interest was to raise the level of social civilization and social culture in the USA 3( In r84 T he wrote the successful

FIGURE r6 Unlermyer Park YOIlkers 11)7 bahlSlrade JOrdering Ille lower lerrace Piloto by Carolill Nees 2005

book A Treatiie 011 lite Theory a1d Practice of Landscape Gardeninr ill which he

rejected the classical styles prevalent in landscape architecture Downing

created a new aesthetic category for landscape design and introduced the style

of the Beautiful and Picturesque which was inspired by previous English

works and reflected the Romantic Movement in art and literature His writing

about the Hudson River Valley and abollt the necessity to introduce parks as

public institutions was printed in illustrated pelodicals of the rimen

Not only was Untennyer inspired by Downing but also by Robert Moses

then the head of the Parks Department of New York State Moses (lil88shy

198 1)J~ a son of German Jewish immigrants created a great number of public

parks and highways throughout New York State and received much publicity

for his construction efforts Moses impressed Untermyer and they began a

292

THE UNTERMYER PARK IN YONI(ERS NEW YORK

H G U REI 7 Ulllcnnycr Park Yonkers NY vi ta Ia ir to the lookoul ami vicJII of thc Palisades PIIOIlgt hy Carolin tvlces 2005

rIGURE I igt Unterlllyer Park Yonker NY lite lookouplarJonn Ivillt Cilpolino coltllllns lite Hudso and tile palisades Plul(o b) Ger Grolling 2006

friencUy com sponden ce that unfortunately quickly became strained during the

complica tions of turning Greystone into a public garden

Untermyers vision to open hi s garden to the public turned out to be more

difficult in the end th an at first anticipa ted When h is wife Minnie died the

ownership of Greys tone was trlnsferred to a trust with Untermyers children

Alvin Irwin and Irene as the trustees Untelm yer required thm this trust

would provide for insuran ce repairs alterations or improvements to the estate

He would also have the right to live at the estate as a tenant In his will he

specified that so long as I occupy th e pl ace pending the sale of the property I

will maintain the grounds and greenhouses in the style in which they have

been heretofore maintai ned by me and that the public may have the benefit of

access to the grounds which they now enjoy3~ This statement indicates how

important the quality of maintenance of Greys tone and its public accessibility

were to Umermyer The Inden ture of 2 January 1937 stlted that in regard to

293


FI G URE 19 UIlermyer Park YOI~kers IY millS Of the Rose Cordms col4lml5 takw oller by riarITe Photo by Gerl Crollillg 2006

the question of maintenance the tenant ie Untermyer himself will quit and

sUlTender the premises hereby demised in JS good stJte Jnd condition as they

were in Jt the commencement of the tenn reasonable use and wear thereof

Jnd damages by the elements excepted 40 Further the agreement specified

the tenant shall have free lise of all fnlit vegetables and other products of the

premises during the term of this lease It addition the condition was made

that no waste or injury to the trees shrubbery or vines (nor to) remove them

from the premises were permitted and that the grounds shall be kept at all

times in neat order and conditiongt4 1

In 1929 due to the Great Depression and the crash of the stock market

Untermyers income as well as the value of Greystone drastically phllTuneted

Consequently his children who were more interested in getting rid of the

rIG URE 20 Urllermyer Park Yonkers jry Ihe rock fOTIrlion (ythe Rock Garden and dried oul waterfall PIolo by Gat Griinillg 2006

294

THE UNTERlvIYER PARK IN YONKERS NEW YORK

FIGURE 21 Ullfennyer Park Yonkers NY fh e srainFay ulIIerlleafl the Eaxles Nest was probably joillea by a lllatfr[al VII cad sia Phorv by Cerr CrOllill~ 2006

property thtn in keeping it were forced to postpone the intended sale of

GreystOne They hoped that Moses construction efforts in the area like the

Sawmill River P~lrkway the Spuyten Duyvil Bridge and the Sawmill River

Parkway-Riverside Drive connection would help to increase the value of the

land in the near future and they asked their father to change his will in order

to permit the selling of the estate within sixty days

The ownership of GreystOne had already been accompanied by tax

problems before Untemlyers time 42 When Greystone was in the trust of

Untermyers children the USA Internal Revenue Department suspected that

Untennyer had cOInmitted fraud in real estate tax payments and claimed the

sum after a thorough investigation In order to clear the issue and to reduce

conflict among the trustees he had to repurchase the estate from the trust in

May 1938

Towards the end of his life the question of how to preserve GreystOne and

how to ensure its accessibility to the public became more and more of concern

to Untemlyer Since the State of New York the City of New York and City

of Yonkers were ballkrupt and since he had not been able to use his savings on

an endowment to provide for future 1Th1intenance of the garden Unterrnyer

needed to find support for his idea somewhere elsewhere He turned to Moses

in 1939 and invited him and his wife to visit Greystone in order to determine

with their own eyes whether the garden was suitable to be tramfonned into a

public park In a letter to Moses of 12 August 1939 Untemlyer explained that

he Nould like to donate his garden to the City ofYonkers which did not have

a public park at the time He mentioned that he was aware of Yonkers

financial situation which would hinder it from coming up for the

maintenance of the garden in the style that would be necessary

Untermyer estimated the costs of the parks l11aintenance at this point to be

$75 000 to $100 000 per year and added that he could not afford to set aside

such a sum as a fund Subsequently he stated that in his opinion it would be

appropriate for the State to take over the property in order to secure it for

permanent public use Untermyer expressed his conviction that Greystone was

an attractive New York State asset and therefore should be turned into a state

park

Moses responded only three days later on 15 August 1939 While accepting

Untermyer s invitation he made it clear that it would be indispensable for

Untennyer to pledge a substantial part of the cost for upkeep in order to get

any cooperation The Greystone garden could not become a state park unless

295


the expenses of maintenance and operation were provided for by a financial

endowment

Another four days later UnterI1lyer pointed out to Moses again that his

garden was especially suitable to be used as a public park He brought to his

attention that the estate was open to the public one day each week and that it

has been patronized by thousands of visitors (from 20000 to 30000 a year)

the daily attendance fluctuating with the season and the attractiveness and

variety of the floral and horticultural displays Untermyer emphasized that

features like statuary and antique gates a collection of rhododendrons valued

at $250000 and regarded as the best of Rhododendrons in New York as

well as a collection of cryptomeria trees and rare hickory made Greystone

unique and differentiate[dJ it from any other place in this country He

implied that he expected when offering all of this as a gift to the people of the

USA who were represented in this case by Moses gratitude or at least

acceptance but especially the necessary funding Untellllyer continued that in

regard to the question of maintenance he was hoping that you and your coshy

Commissioners will agree with me that it would be a sacrilege to tum the place

over without the adequate support and that Moses should find it sufficiently

unique to justify the expenditure Moses replied on 29 August 1939 that he

did not consider Greystone fitting for a county or s~lte park but that it would

definitely be an admirable city park and arboretum He agreed that the

expanding City of Yonkers needed a local park in the near future In addition

Moses suggested that the matter should be decided by the City of Yonkers on

the basis of a local referendum so that an residents of Yonkers had an

opportunity to express their opinion on the cost of maintenance and the losgt of

taxes to the city

Three days later again on 2 September 1939 Untermyer wrote to the

new govelllor of New York State Herbert Lehman He informed Lehman

of his plans and Moses position in this regard Subsequently he explained

that becJuse of the City of Yonkers bankruptcy it would not be able to

maintain the garden appropriately Untermyer then invited the governor and

his wife to visit his estate He expressed his hope that because of its

proximity to New York City his garden could be transformed into a state

park Eventually almost two weeks later on 15 September 1939 the

Governor responded that he would not be able to visit Greystone any time

soon but offered to discuss the matter with Moses and others at an early

opportunity

29()

Untermyer apparently rather disappointed by this development sent on the

same day yet another letter to Moses infolming him that a visit to the estate

was not necessary until the endowment question is settled He clarified again

that in his opinion the City of Yonkers was not necessarily the right civic

institution to accept Greystone as a public park from the mere tact that it is

located within the City limits Untermyer added that his garden on the

contrary would not be in any sense a local park or improvement bLlt one

cOlllmensurate in interest and importance with the entire State This

statement reflects what would tum out to be the main difference between

Untermyers view of the parks fLlture and Moses vision Moses in contrast to

Ulltemlyer was not so much interested in preserving the uniqlleness of

Greystone and making it accessible to the pubJic as in ensuring that the

maintenance of a public park in Yonkers would not require any funding by his

department

On 7 September 1939 Moses had asked Untermyer for a layout map of the

property indicating in as much detail as possible the location of buildings and

other facilities A blueprint was delivered promptly two days later to Moses

office in New York City showing Greystone$ permanent structures

improvements and roadways on a scale of 150 feet to the inch 43

Unfortunately despite every effort and inquiry this map could not be located

In the same month after correspondence with his son Alvin Untennyer

changed his will so that Greystone wOllld be offered first to the state then to

the county and then to the City of Yonkers The beneficiary would be

entitled to sell or dispose of the balance of the property for any purpose

whatsoever in order to provide for the costs of maintenance and in the case

of the City of Yonkers lbeing the recipient] to provide it -vith additional

assessable values for levying the taxes to offset loss of the portion utilized

solely as a park4 I3ut as letters from 20 September and 1 J October 1939

indicate Moses had not yet lost interest in the topic He suggested that

Untermyer should consider in case neither the state nor the county nor the

city ofYonkers would accept Greystone giving all plant material and statuary

which can be readily removed together with a sufficient SU11l to be replanted

and placed in the New York Botanical Garden as a new garden to be known

as the Untelmyer Garden45 Further he recommended that Untermyer

should donate money from a sale of Greystone to New York City and the

public This donation would then be used according to Moses for the

establishment of a new playground in one of the congested and neglected


sections of the city such playground to be caUed Untermyer Playground

[and to be located) in the North Bronx south of Moullt Vernon where rapid

transit is about to be provided [Jnd where) practiolly no park facilities existed

at the time~6 When looking at how Moses spent money on his own

architectural visions of public projects and parks and also when regarding how

closely Greystones design came to his preferences of style it is hard to

understand how Moses could make these suggestions and reject the chance to

create a public PJrk out of such J luxUlious estJtes garden But the problem

in dealing with Moses as son Alvin Untermyer later described was that his

father incorrectly appeared to be more concerned about perpetuating at

public expense the maintenance of [his] particular abode and something that

[he] had built up rather than providing an appropriate park for the

underprivileged public 7 Moses seemed solely interested in creating an open

space that was accessible to a broad public in a way that fit his overall concept

for New York Cit) without spending the funds of the State of New York

Untemlyer rejected Moses suggestions and replied on 14 October 1939

that he was not willing to do anything in the way of dismantling Greystone as

its entire value for the public would be destroyed 4 S He continued that if

the place cannot be perpetuated as a garden and museum he and his children

had decided that it would be the best that after his deJth the property -vould be

taken apart and sold as building lots which would reJllZe at least $500000 to

the estate - less inheritance taxes4~ Untermyer was as his correspondence

with the director of the New York Botanical Garden of 14 October 1939

indicates surprised that the expense of maintaining a garden could be that

much of a problem and he was even more dismayed that neither the State nor

the County would grasp the opportunity to acquire Greystone as a park 50

Despite these discouraging discussions Untermyer remJined convinced of

his intention to make Greystone publicly accessible Proving once and for all

his qualities as a lawyer he employed a trick to ensure the preservation of his

garden In the final version of his testament Untemlyer made it the first

priority that at his death Greystone would be given to the State of New York

to be used as a public park Jnd gardens to be known as Sallluel Untermyer

Park and Gardens In this context he demanded thJt all parts of his garden

should be made available to the public for their lISe and enjoyment afTording

not only means for physical activity and relaxation but also aesthetic pleasure

and inspiration for those less actively inclined who came to enjoy the beautiful

floral and horticultural displays 5 Untermyer clarified that there is now

constructed on the property bequeathed an open-air theatre and walledshy

garden known as the Greek Gardens that is now and has been for many

years devoted to exhibitions of flowers Jnd flowering plants silllibr to those

that have for generations characterized the exhibitions at the Hampton Court

Gardens in England 51 He especialJy expressed his hope that the State of New

York or the appropriate authOlity thereof [would] arrange for the

perpetuJtion of these exhibitions Jnd for the maintenance of the property in a

condition generally similar to that in which it has been maintained by me54 In

addition Untermyer recommended the continued employment of his

supetintendent George H Chisholm because of his knowledge of plants and

his capacity to maintain and improve the property bequeathed as a park and

garden 55 In case the State of New York rejected to accept his will

Untermyer added to his testament the option to ofTer the property to the City

of Yonkers Jnd the City of New York5 0

All happened eXJctly as Untermyer had foreseen when he died the state

refused to turn his garden into a state park Consequently the cy pres doctrine

which states that when literal compliance with a will is impossible the

intention of a donor or testator should be carried out as nearly as possible was

applied to Untennyers testament 57 A declaration which interpreted the wiU

accordingly was recorded on 24 April 1941 and the City of Yonkers was

brought into the situation as Untelmyer intended the city had to maintain

parts of the property of Greystone as a public park Subsequently in order to

reduce the costs of maintenance the City of Yonkers sold parcels of the

property keeping only the lots with the Greek Garden the vista stair and the

Eagles nest in their ownership The mansion and the greenhouses were later destroyed SR

The non-profit l1Iembership corporation Samuel Untennyer Parks Jnd

Gardens was established in 1941 with the purpose of carrying out the

charitable and public purposes of the bequest of Greystone The certificate of

incorporation stated IS the objective to develop improve maintain and

operate such land as a public park and garden [and] as a public

pbyground andor for horticulturdl purposes 59 But the taxation of Greystone

remained an ongoing issue Consequently and by virtue of a provision

presented by the lower courts and decided in accordance with the cy pres

doctrine and the certificate of incorporation the garden was not sufficiently

used as a public park and playground to justify exemption of the property from

taxation However after further investigation the court found that the

297


property had been used since 194 T strictly for public purposes that it had

neither been devoted for public events of only charitable character nor for

private entertainment nor for other events such as horticultural shows held

under exclusion of the publicno Greystone was finally exempted from - 61

taxation m 1942

While under the ownership of the City of Yonkers the garden received the

status of a Historic Landmark of the USA National Register of Historic Places

A bronze plaque at the gardens main entrance gate commemorates this status

and is inscribed with the names of the former landowners Since there are

few er than 2500 places in the USA on the National Register of Historic Places

Greys tone was fmally given some of the accreditation Untermye r had hoped

fordeg O Despite all the difficulties he encountered Untermyers garden is today a

public park and still acknowledged for its llIuque landscape design However

co nsidering the strictures Untermyer had set up in the trust for its

maintenance Untermyer Parks condition is currently in decline

The lost plan

During the 60 years of public ownership the landscape design of Greystone

has been considerably neglected and altered but its former beauty can still be

trac ed in what has been set in stone Today mu ch of the artwork that

Untermyer had co llected to enhance Greystones distinctiveness has been

destroyed or removed from the garden The relief of the unicorn for

example situated at the loyver entrance is headless and only the hinges of

the entrance gate are left to tell of its original qUJlity and craftsll1anship The

removal of the bronze sc ulpture The Three Dancing Maidens is also a

great loss to the garden It had originally been placed in front of th e

mansion but was donated in 1947 by Untermyers children to be located at

the Central Park Conservatory Garden known today as the Untermyer

Fountain01 (figure 22) Created in 1910 by Walter Schott (rS61-1931l)64

Untermyer probably saw another casting of this sculpture while staying at his

properry in Berlins Heerstrasse In the vicinity of Berlin is the so-called

Nymph fountai n located in the park of the castle Schlitz in Teterow

Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania (figure 23) it is easily imaginable that

Untermyer visited this castle and park and was impressed by the arrwork and

location 65

FIGURE 22 entral Park Nell York City NY fmll1taill the TITer Dal1cillg lvlaidctl5 or(~ll1ally located il1 Ie Ul1lermyer Prk S(llplOr Va Iter SCOll PIIOo by Grr Gr(jHiH~

2006

Nevertheless some sculptures do remain exhibited in their original place in

the garden and have been restored such as Manships sphinxes which crest

over the theaters stage Even though much of the planting arrangement has

been lost as well there are still some plants to be found that are old enough to

have been there when the garden was first created the strangely shaped

conifers at the sides of the entrance gate a few large rhododendron bushes

next to the theatres stage as well as other species growing further down the

hill

The Greek Garden is the most visited and best restored part of Greystone

today It is still very attractive but has been considerably vandalized over the

yelrS Most of the destruction happened during the economic crisis of th e

J970S when cities cut back on park maintenance and when drugs crime and

298

TI-IE UNTERMYER PARK IN YONKERS NEW YORK

fI G U R E 23 ParI of Ihe Hole BII~~ (Castie) Schlitz TelerOiI GemwrlY Nylllph FOlllltaill s(IIiplor kVaiter Scholl httpuUwmrg-scillitzde accessed 7 Decemher

2006

vandalism increased in general Today the guards house at the bottolTl of the

hill is scill derelict a ruin with its entrance closed of[ by a fading yellow police

band befitting the scene of fallen trees broken steps and smeared walls

The first major renovacion effort was started in the late 1970S under the

leadership of the local landscape architect James Piccone His approach focused

not on restoring buildings and artwork but merely beautifying the structures

During this period one surmises that Bosworths original plan of Untermyers

garden was lost or stolen

Today the landscape architect Ralph Crosby is involved in renovating and

enhancing the infrastructural elements like the irrigation system before tabng

care of the more visible parts of the garden 66 Crosby has been working with

the Park Department Deputy Commissioner August Cambria on the basis of

the detailed report by the office Heritage Landscapes Preservation Landscape

Architects and Planners to restore the park 67 But the renovation has come to

a stop several cimes since they need to apply continuously for grants lIld

governmental funds to provide for maintenance and restoration

Consequently despite the effort of the City of Yonkers a lot more work

needs to be done as well as money to be invested to re-establish the forn1er

beauty of Unterrnyers garden

Over the years Greystones restoration has cost millions of dollars designed

to be enjoyed by all residents of the Tri-State area6 The buildings and

mosaics have been renovated new bushes were planted trashcans installed

and red rubber concrete pavement laid down The old carriage house located

outside of the gardens perimeter wall in front of the upper entrance gate was

rebuilt and modernized to accommodate the Park Departments offices as well

as rooms for a theater company which currently holds a summer stage at

Unterrnyer Park

Still it remains unclear whether the layout of the garden today corresponds

with the original concept Bosworths own publicacion of the first design ideas

the Preliminary Plan of Greystone Gardens in the Architectural Review

Journal of December J 91 R is his only known drawing of the gardens09 and

the only exact existing drawing telling of his intention Nevertheless in

measuring the elements set in stone and when redrawing the layout of the

Greek Garden Bosworths formal design remains very present today

The City of Yonkers was and is not as predicted by Samuel Unterrnyer

wealthy enough to maintain the garden in its previous style

Conclusion

A landmark with a special connection to the history and politics of the USA

situated in an exclusive location with a remarkable landscape design the

Untermyer Park in Yonkers should easily stand out among public parks and

receive the funding necessary for its Illaintenance But since opened to the

public the garden has become undefined through its subsequent use Still

more disappointing although the park is publicly accessible only a few

actually visit and reap the gardens rewards A revival of the once regularly

held horticultural shows and opening Greystone once a week might add stir

up public attraction to the garden Due to the current lack of funding reshy

establishing the gardens former horticultural significance is a momentous

299

STUDIES IN THE HISTORY OF GARDENS AND DESIGNED LANDS C APES MEES

challenge Beyond the summer theater the garden lacks specific programshy

ming Unte rmyer Park is more of a historic remnant than contemporary

public space It may not be necessary to modernize the garden to conform to

todays needs so much as to retrace its history and revive it for future

generations

In conclusion the transfonnJtion ofl pri vJ te garden into J publi c park

depends o n funding as well as on the preservation of its initial design and use

Creystones history needs to be documented explained and publicized not

only to heighten its distinc tiveness but also to clarify what needs to be done in

order to restore Bosworth s design and to re-established Untermyers civic

intentions and aspiration for the garden Since a garden is a work of art it

should be possible to preserve and maint~in it in the way it was created in

order to e nsure not only its appearance but llso its future use by the publi c

Acknowledgment

I thank the supp ort of the following persons for helping to complete 111y

research August Cambria Ralph Crosby Cenya Erling Prof Dr Cere

Craning Patricia ODonell of H eritage Landscapes Preservation Landsca pe

Architects and Planners

I John T Waring ws the President of the City of Yonkers He established a hat manuGcruring business in the city in 1840 which is said to have been the largest hat manufacturer in the world by 1R62 Heritage Landscapes Preservation Landscape Architects and Planners UnlCrtllyer Park Greystllnc Yonkers N ew York Histon( Landswpe Report and Trcatment Plan (Charlone Vermont and Norwalk Connecticut Heritage Landscapes Preservation bndscape Architects and Planners September 1995) P5

H ereafter cittd as Ullterlllyer Park Rcport amp P(lI1 2 It is sa id that th e mansion reflected the industrial

backgro und ofVaring We may trace the manuflcshyturer ofHacs in the rectangular line and big mass of the house (Ulltermyer Park Report OIld Pltll p 5)

3middot Ibid p 5middot 4 Tilden was an unsuccessful participant in the

presidential election of T874 and a major playe r in th e political movement that would eventually bring about New York s infamous Tammany H alls political machine Tammany HaJJ played a m~ior rolt in controlling N ew York City s Democratic Party and politics from the 1790S to the 1960s It weakened upon the election of Fiorello laGuardia in 1934 Bowman John S Th e Cambridge Dictionary of Aerican Biography (Cambridge University Press

NOTES

1995)middot 5 Unlcrlllyer Park Report alld Plan P9 middot 6 Before moving to his estate in Yonkers Tilden had

lived in a mansion on Gramercy Park South in Manhattan which has landmark status tOday Oi(tiOl1Qry of AmericaN BioRraphy SlIpplctlimt 2 (New York Charles Scribner s Sons 1937)

7 WIIO is Who ill AIIcrica A Carlponcllt VvlrIle of V(lIOS HII in AlI1erican H iy Volume 1 1897-19-12 (New ProvidencE NJ Preston 1996)

8 The New Deal was a series of social and economic refonns established through regulation and smlctural re-org1nizltion in the USA in the 1930S nle New Websters COlnprehclI5ive Oicliollary ofthe EIIrish Lanruage (New York Lexicon Publications Inc 1937)

9 Untermyer owned a penthouse in Atlantic City New Jersey the estate The Willows in Palrrl Sprinl5 California and a property on HeerstraGe in Berlin Germany Cllrrent Blo~raphy Yearbook Periodicals (New York H W Wilson 1940) p320

10 Ibid p H20 [ I Tile New vVeilstcrs COinprehmsivc OiCliollary of the

Enlish iA rlRll(lRe (New York Lexicon Publications Inc 1937)

12 SOwel Untenn yer Papers 191-1952 lllteroffi(e memo

Untennyer Park 945 NorI Broadway NY 10701

NOember 18 1952 Ba(k)rollld of jollkcrs ProperlY by E Severance Oacob Reader Marcus Center ofthe American Jewish Archives Cincinnati Campus Hebrew Union College J ewish Institute of Religion) P 3 Hereafter cited as Samuel Ullterll ycr Papergt for that date

I Ibid P3 14 Ibid p 3middot 15 711C Nell H1cbslcrs Clllllprchensillc Oictiollary of the

Eneisli Lanellaee (New Yo rk Lexicon Publications Inc 1987)

16 Ibid 17 Unrerlll yer Park Report alld rim I p 25middot IR Ibid P35middot 19middot Ibid Pmiddot35 middot 20 Ibid P36 11 They were sculpted by Paul Manship (1885-1966)

who also created a set of almost life-size bronze statues called DiJna and Actaeon and his hounds for Unttnnyer in 1924 upon the death of his wife Where these sculptures exactl y had been located in Greystones garden during Untennyers time is unknown The Statue of Diana is now shown at the Hudson River Museum in Yonkers NY but according to Sa1l1uel Untermyers letter to Robert Moses of 14 October 1939 an unspecifi ed other Paul Manship statue was stolen by some of the men

300


w ho were working 011 a W P A project ourside

the place SameI Ulltennyer Papers 22 Isadora Dunc1n founded schools In France

Geml1I1y and RuSSla TIle Nell ltVebslers COl1lp rchmsivc Dictionary of Ihe LnRlisil LnIlRIJa~(

(New York Lexicon Publications Inc 19R7)

23 Isidore Konti (1862-1938) was trained ill the nt aux

Arts tradi tion and had taken parr in an exhibition of the National Sculpture Society at the Madison

Square Garden His sculpture the brook is now

on display in Yonkers Hudson River Museum

Personal visi t in 2005

24 UIIennyer Park Report alld Plan p 47

25 Ibid p 47middot 26 Ibid p 47

27- Ibid p 48

28 Smnllel Ullternyer Papers p2

29 UIIermyer Park Report alld Plarl P1i4 10 It has been said that Chisholm created for e-xarnple a

chlysanthemum model of the Notre Dame ca theshy

dral Ibid p 64 3 I N ewsweek Sideshow httplinksjstoLorg

]2 Samuel Ulltemlyer Papers p 3middot

33 UllterlllYfr Park Reporl alld Plan p 20

34 Ibi d p20 35 Birnbaum C harl es A and Karson Robin PlOllcas

of Americall Urllrsrape Des(~rI (New York McGrawshy

Hill Companie-s Inc 2000)

315 UrIcnnycr Park Report anr Plan p20

37 TIlpound Carrens of the His(rir TOIIl1s of Wstrhester Hal f Moon Presl http lhvvhudsonriver com

hal fmoon p ress sto ries 03 99ga rd htm 38 Caro I~obert The Power Broker Roberllloses anrfle

FilII of New York (New York Random H ouse Inc

Vintage Uooks Edition 1974)

39middot SameI Untermyer Papersjlllle 7 1926 p 3middot 40 Samllel UIIamya Papas The lurm ture jalllwry 2t1r

1937 p2 41 Ibid p2 42 In IS99 G~orge H Tilden the on of Samuel

Tilden had to sell the property in a public 1 11 ction 1S

a result of the suit No York Pllblie Library ASnr Lenos anr Tilreu Founrati( (lS Ceo~~e l-f Tilren At

this auction Untcnnyer had bought the parr called

Greystone for $50 500 and the land where tIre mansion was locatcd for $ I 21 000 But the value

had reduced drasticall y since only four years earlier

In 18915 when the properry was ~ppraiscd at

$372000 and ML Tilden had put about $500000

into the purchase price ~nd hi improvements

Samlle UlIlenn yer Papers Illter-o(fic( memo NOlember IS 195Z P 3 (The following rlfer~nces are aU to this document)

43 According to a lerrer addressed to Samuel

Untermyer on 13 September 1939 wh ich is without

a signature today Samel Ullrermyer Papers 44 Samuel Ulllerl1yer Papers memoralldm by Alllit

UlIwllyer of Seplemier 15 1939 p 2

45 Ibid p 2

46 Ibid p 2 47 SamuellJl1termyer Papers letcerfrolll Alilin UnlClII)ef of

Septellber 21 1939 p 2

4il Ibid p2

49 Ibid p 2

50 Ibid p2

51 Ibid p 2 52 Ibid p 2

53 Samuel Unternyel Papers jry Opirlion Vol 295 p 2

54 Ibid p 2

55 Ibid P 2

56 Saltlid UlltenllY Papers Inter-olirc 111110 Novellber IS 1952 P3

57 Ulltcnllyer Park Reporl arlr Platl p 25

IS S(lJmlCl Utlamyer Papers lnler-oflice memo Novelluer IS 195 2 P3

59 Samel Unteyer Papers NY Opinion Vol 295 p 2

00 Ibid p 2

61 Ibid p 2

62 Bur in contrast to for example the GemlJn DenkmaJschutz a properry listed as a National

Historic Landmark is not necessarily protected against

alternion or demolition (hrrp wwwcLnpsgovll hl l)

63 Sallluel Ulltenllyer Papns NY Opillioll Vol Z95 p 2

64 Tite rYC1l Wcbmiddottcr s CompretctlSive Dictiollary of the Enlilish Urrll(~e (New York Lexicon Publiotiolls

Inc 19R7)

6) The Nymph fountain was poured in 1903 bur was set up only in 1930 1t its curren t location Berger

Ursula and Gable-r J osephine Drei vfarcllen mit Ve~~allgfllheir Die Cesrilirille del Bnml7fr1 Drei tQ1zenre Marchell VOII vValer Scrott Berlill ill

Cesrilirill e mr Cegm varc jalnuuril res Urlllfearchirgts Berli (Berlin Gebriider Manll VeriJg 2002)

PPmiddot79-97 middot 1)6 Crosby Ralph E Urllrsrape Arrhileel 215 Jun e 2005

Interviev

157 Ca mbria AUf1ISt Dtpury Com missioner of the Park

Dep1[tment of the City of Yonkers 23 Jun e 2005 Interview

IiR The Untenn yer Park allr CarrelL (Yonkers NY

Department of Parks and Conservation 1999-2000)

09 UI1ennyer Park R eport mlr Plan p 25

301


rJ GUll E I UtltfTlllyer Park YOflkers NY rile mansion oj Greystone iVrtll Broadllay YOIlkers PhOfO hy A V Card Yonkers J11llsfrafed pllblished 1902 y file City ltgt YOllkers

intention was to preserve his garden while making it accessible not only to

privileged visitors but to the general public 7 Yet this change from private to

public ownership would turn Out to be more difficult than Untennyer

anticipated While the layout and development of Greystones garden had

been influenced by the ideas and personalities of the three landlords especially

the decisions of Samuel Untermyer shaped the propertys landscape design and

its future use

Samuel Untermyer

Samuel Untermyer (I858-I940) was a controversial figure in action as well as in

personality (figure 2) Born in Lynchburg Virginia he moved to New York City

after his taher aJewish immigrant from 13avalia GenTIany died while serving in

the Confederate Amly during the Civil War Against his parents wiU Samuel

Unteflllyer began to study law and graduated in I R78 frolll Columbia University

FIGURE 2 Photo ~r Sal1lllel Unterllljcr and his )iLlnmiddott A Ivai Einstein I possibly al GreySone Felmwry 719]1 COllrresy ifflle Arcilies Cal10rnicI Inslilille oj TeclI1ey and rhe Hebrew Ullilersity ~Jemsaleln

28 3














private interests











wearing wilted








Greystone



2R4





































and 3b)


fa)

~~

K ~middoti ~ ~a~

~ 4 = ~ - ~ ~~ ~ - bull

-=--_ gt 1 I

-(b) ___ ~ _~_

----- -- 7 ~~ ~



_-=---Z--=~___~ ~t L -- J Is~~~

f~- ~=~Ii f ~---

r (

( -=---

---~~- ------I



Untermyers garden



























2S5


















2S6











































287

























288




























growing season




289














290






The public garden







29 1




























292


















293
















294















May 1938




















park





295



endowment
























taxes to the city











opportunity

29()














department


































































































297






taxation m 1942











The lost plan


















location 65


2006








hill





298



2006



























Unterrnyer Park










Conclusion











299






generations









Acknowledgment










NOTES















300













27- Ibid p 48






























45 Ibid p 2



4il Ibid p2

49 Ibid p 2

50 Ibid p2



54 Ibid p 2

55 Ibid P 2





00 Ibid p 2

61 Ibid p 2






Inc 19R7)





Interviev






301














private interests











wearing wilted








Greystone



2R4





































and 3b)


fa)

~~

K ~middoti ~ ~a~

~ 4 = ~ - ~ ~~ ~ - bull

-=--_ gt 1 I

-(b) ___ ~ _~_

----- -- 7 ~~ ~



_-=---Z--=~___~ ~t L -- J Is~~~

f~- ~=~Ii f ~---

r (

( -=---

---~~- ------I



Untermyers garden



























2S5


















2S6











































287

























288




























growing season




289














290






The public garden







29 1




























292


















293
















294















May 1938




















park





295



endowment
























taxes to the city











opportunity

29()














department


































































































297






taxation m 1942











The lost plan


















location 65


2006








hill





298



2006



























Unterrnyer Park










Conclusion











299






generations









Acknowledgment










NOTES















300













27- Ibid p 48






























45 Ibid p 2



4il Ibid p2

49 Ibid p 2

50 Ibid p2



54 Ibid p 2

55 Ibid P 2





00 Ibid p 2

61 Ibid p 2






Inc 19R7)





Interviev






301


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Untermyers garden



























2S5


















2S6











































287

























288




























growing season




289














290






The public garden







29 1




























292


















293
















294















May 1938




















park





295



endowment
























taxes to the city











opportunity

29()














department


































































































297






taxation m 1942











The lost plan


















location 65


2006








hill





298



2006



























Unterrnyer Park










Conclusion











299






generations









Acknowledgment










NOTES















300













27- Ibid p 48






























45 Ibid p 2



4il Ibid p2

49 Ibid p 2

50 Ibid p2



54 Ibid p 2

55 Ibid P 2





00 Ibid p 2

61 Ibid p 2






Inc 19R7)





Interviev






301


















2S6











































287

























288




























growing season




289














290






The public garden







29 1




























292


















293
















294















May 1938




















park





295



endowment
























taxes to the city











opportunity

29()














department


































































































297






taxation m 1942











The lost plan


















location 65


2006








hill





298



2006



























Unterrnyer Park










Conclusion











299






generations









Acknowledgment










NOTES















300













27- Ibid p 48






























45 Ibid p 2



4il Ibid p2

49 Ibid p 2

50 Ibid p2



54 Ibid p 2

55 Ibid P 2





00 Ibid p 2

61 Ibid p 2






Inc 19R7)





Interviev






301







287

























288




























growing season




289














290






The public garden







29 1




























292


















293
















294















May 1938




















park





295



endowment
























taxes to the city











opportunity

29()














department


































































































297






taxation m 1942











The lost plan


















location 65


2006








hill





298



2006



























Unterrnyer Park










Conclusion











299






generations









Acknowledgment










NOTES















300













27- Ibid p 48






























45 Ibid p 2



4il Ibid p2

49 Ibid p 2

50 Ibid p2



54 Ibid p 2

55 Ibid P 2





00 Ibid p 2

61 Ibid p 2






Inc 19R7)





Interviev






301

























288




























growing season




289














290






The public garden







29 1




























292


















293
















294















May 1938




















park





295



endowment
























taxes to the city











opportunity

29()














department


































































































297






taxation m 1942











The lost plan


















location 65


2006








hill





298



2006



























Unterrnyer Park










Conclusion











299






generations









Acknowledgment










NOTES















300













27- Ibid p 48






























45 Ibid p 2



4il Ibid p2

49 Ibid p 2

50 Ibid p2



54 Ibid p 2

55 Ibid P 2





00 Ibid p 2

61 Ibid p 2






Inc 19R7)





Interviev






301




























growing season




289














290






The public garden







29 1




























292


















293
















294















May 1938




















park





295



endowment
























taxes to the city











opportunity

29()














department


































































































297






taxation m 1942











The lost plan


















location 65


2006








hill





298



2006



























Unterrnyer Park










Conclusion











299






generations









Acknowledgment










NOTES















300













27- Ibid p 48






























45 Ibid p 2



4il Ibid p2

49 Ibid p 2

50 Ibid p2



54 Ibid p 2

55 Ibid P 2





00 Ibid p 2

61 Ibid p 2






Inc 19R7)





Interviev






301














290






The public garden







29 1




























292


















293
















294















May 1938




















park





295



endowment
























taxes to the city











opportunity

29()














department


































































































297






taxation m 1942











The lost plan


















location 65


2006








hill





298



2006



























Unterrnyer Park










Conclusion











299






generations









Acknowledgment










NOTES















300













27- Ibid p 48






























45 Ibid p 2



4il Ibid p2

49 Ibid p 2

50 Ibid p2



54 Ibid p 2

55 Ibid P 2





00 Ibid p 2

61 Ibid p 2






Inc 19R7)





Interviev






301






The public garden







29 1




























292


















293
















294















May 1938




















park





295



endowment
























taxes to the city











opportunity

29()














department


































































































297






taxation m 1942











The lost plan


















location 65


2006








hill





298



2006



























Unterrnyer Park










Conclusion











299






generations









Acknowledgment










NOTES















300













27- Ibid p 48






























45 Ibid p 2



4il Ibid p2

49 Ibid p 2

50 Ibid p2



54 Ibid p 2

55 Ibid P 2





00 Ibid p 2

61 Ibid p 2






Inc 19R7)





Interviev






301




























292


















293
















294















May 1938




















park





295



endowment
























taxes to the city











opportunity

29()














department


































































































297






taxation m 1942











The lost plan


















location 65


2006








hill





298



2006



























Unterrnyer Park










Conclusion











299






generations









Acknowledgment










NOTES















300













27- Ibid p 48






























45 Ibid p 2



4il Ibid p2

49 Ibid p 2

50 Ibid p2



54 Ibid p 2

55 Ibid P 2





00 Ibid p 2

61 Ibid p 2






Inc 19R7)





Interviev






301


















293
















294















May 1938




















park





295



endowment
























taxes to the city











opportunity

29()














department


































































































297






taxation m 1942











The lost plan


















location 65


2006








hill





298



2006



























Unterrnyer Park










Conclusion











299






generations









Acknowledgment










NOTES















300













27- Ibid p 48






























45 Ibid p 2



4il Ibid p2

49 Ibid p 2

50 Ibid p2



54 Ibid p 2

55 Ibid P 2





00 Ibid p 2

61 Ibid p 2






Inc 19R7)





Interviev






301
















294















May 1938




















park





295



endowment
























taxes to the city











opportunity

29()














department


































































































297






taxation m 1942











The lost plan


















location 65


2006








hill





298



2006



























Unterrnyer Park










Conclusion











299






generations









Acknowledgment










NOTES















300













27- Ibid p 48






























45 Ibid p 2



4il Ibid p2

49 Ibid p 2

50 Ibid p2



54 Ibid p 2

55 Ibid P 2





00 Ibid p 2

61 Ibid p 2






Inc 19R7)





Interviev






301















May 1938




















park





295



endowment
























taxes to the city











opportunity

29()














department


































































































297






taxation m 1942











The lost plan


















location 65


2006








hill





298



2006



























Unterrnyer Park










Conclusion











299






generations









Acknowledgment










NOTES















300













27- Ibid p 48






























45 Ibid p 2



4il Ibid p2

49 Ibid p 2

50 Ibid p2



54 Ibid p 2

55 Ibid P 2





00 Ibid p 2

61 Ibid p 2






Inc 19R7)





Interviev






301



endowment
























taxes to the city











opportunity

29()














department


































































































297






taxation m 1942











The lost plan


















location 65


2006








hill





298



2006



























Unterrnyer Park










Conclusion











299






generations









Acknowledgment










NOTES















300













27- Ibid p 48






























45 Ibid p 2



4il Ibid p2

49 Ibid p 2

50 Ibid p2



54 Ibid p 2

55 Ibid P 2





00 Ibid p 2

61 Ibid p 2






Inc 19R7)





Interviev






301











































































297






taxation m 1942











The lost plan


















location 65


2006








hill





298



2006



























Unterrnyer Park










Conclusion











299






generations









Acknowledgment










NOTES















300













27- Ibid p 48






























45 Ibid p 2



4il Ibid p2

49 Ibid p 2

50 Ibid p2



54 Ibid p 2

55 Ibid P 2





00 Ibid p 2

61 Ibid p 2






Inc 19R7)





Interviev






301






taxation m 1942











The lost plan


















location 65


2006








hill





298



2006



























Unterrnyer Park










Conclusion











299






generations









Acknowledgment










NOTES















300













27- Ibid p 48






























45 Ibid p 2



4il Ibid p2

49 Ibid p 2

50 Ibid p2



54 Ibid p 2

55 Ibid P 2





00 Ibid p 2

61 Ibid p 2






Inc 19R7)





Interviev






301



2006



























Unterrnyer Park










Conclusion











299






generations









Acknowledgment










NOTES















300













27- Ibid p 48






























45 Ibid p 2



4il Ibid p2

49 Ibid p 2

50 Ibid p2



54 Ibid p 2

55 Ibid P 2





00 Ibid p 2

61 Ibid p 2






Inc 19R7)





Interviev






301






generations









Acknowledgment










NOTES















300













27- Ibid p 48






























45 Ibid p 2



4il Ibid p2

49 Ibid p 2

50 Ibid p2



54 Ibid p 2

55 Ibid P 2





00 Ibid p 2

61 Ibid p 2






Inc 19R7)





Interviev






301













27- Ibid p 48






























45 Ibid p 2



4il Ibid p2

49 Ibid p 2

50 Ibid p2



54 Ibid p 2

55 Ibid P 2





00 Ibid p 2

61 Ibid p 2






Inc 19R7)





Interviev






301

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